Highlights
- •A pyrosequencing primer set was developed to measure the methylation level of an immediate upstream region of BRCA1.
- •BRCA1 methylation was observed in 21.5% of high-grade serous ovarian cancers.
- •BRCA1 methylation was a prognostic factor for progression-free survival in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
Abstract
Objective
To establish a quantitative method to evaluate the DNA methylation level of an immediate
upstream region of major BRCA1 transcriptional start sites (TSSs), and to investigate whether methylation of the
region is a prognostic factor in high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients after neoadjuvant
chemotherapy.
Methods
Ninety-two FFPE samples of advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancers after neoadjuvant
chemotherapy between 2011 and 2018 were used for mutation and methylation analysis.
DNA methylation levels were assessed by pyrosequencing and DNA methylation microarray.
An association between methylation level (or a mutation) and progression-free survival
was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.
Result
Major BRCA1 transcripts and CpG sites immediately upstream of their TSSs were identified, and
a pyrosequencing method was developed. BRCA1 methylation, BRCA1/2 mutations, and a RAD51C mutation were detected in 17/79 (21.5%), 17/92 (18.5%), and 1/92 (1.1%) high-grade
serious ovarian cancer samples. In univariate analysis, BRCA1 methylation and no residual tumor were associated with progression-free survival
(BRCA1 methylation: P = 0.025, no residual tumor: P = 0.0026). Multivariate analysis showed that both BRCA1 methylation (P = 0.038, HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.21–0.96) and no residual tumor (P = 0.012, HR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28–0.85) were significant favorable prognostic factors.
Conclusion
A quantitative method to estimate the methylation level of the immediate upstream
region of major BRCA1 TSSs was established. Methylation of the region of was an independent favorable prognostic
factor in high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 14, 2022
Accepted:
October 7,
2022
Received in revised form:
October 5,
2022
Received:
March 15,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
